Ornamentation Of Solomon's Temple.

and in the full and firm belief that " God seeth not as man seeth , for man looks at the outward appearance , but God looketh at the . heart . " "The precepts of the Gospel are universally the principles of Masonry . " Por tho benefit of others let mo quote a high Masonic authority , — "

According to Masonic teaching , a Mason must be a man of strict morality , humane , bcnovolent , charitable . He must be no gambler , no tippler , no profane swearer . He must be no reviler against the religion of Christ , or the

professors thereof ; he must be strictly honest , industrious and upright in all his conduct . " For this column of morality and flower of excellence there is but one foundation—Faith in God .

7 . —This foundation has a meaning that reaches all the way up to the lily work at the top . We are not done with the pillar till we have reached the lily ; go on to perfections is the highest law of life . The germ of the lily is in the foundation . We are not done building life's character till

it is graceful and refined , as well as strong and firm . The pillar and the lily belong to each other . The foundation is to be used , we are to trust it , build on it . We aro not to trust in the world , it is vain , deceitful , unrefined , but we are to build on Christ , working life's thoughts and deeds into the pillar of Truth and lily of Purity .

8 . —To accomplish this is not an easy task . Applauding multitudes may gather about the unveiling of some hero ' statue , but no such grateful enthusiasm swings the golden censer whilo you build life ' s manhood . - Paul says ,

" We wrestle not against flesh and blood . He was not concerned about the fleets that sailed the high waters of the Mediterranean , nor did he fear the mailed warriors of Home . His contention was with the weakness

of his own natnre , and the sins that assailed him with the fury of death , and with the godlessness that feasted in the palace of the rich , and overshadowed the throne of royalty ; yet he went to the very courts of the Caesars , and preached Christ in the fullness of power . Bnt the

greatest conquest of his life was when he stood in the presence of death , saying , " I am now ready to be offered . " We have something to tax our courage more than some temporal force , something better to build than even an Empire . The empires will go down to the

unremembered past , but the mvisiblo and the Eternal , wrought into the moral life , will become established as the strength of the throne , and crowned with the lily of moral beauty , whose graceful cup will for ever drink in

the sunshine of an approving God . Difficult as the task may be in squaring life with the law of God , the result is worth the effort , "He that loseth his life for My sake and the gospels shall find it . "

9 . —The presence of the lily work reveals to us the lesson of love . It was a matter of sentiment . It was there for

effect . The architect thought of its appearance . He wanted it to look well . Hiram applied to the brass something more than his hands . His love for the work said , " These pillars shall not only be strong and firm , but graceful , symmetrical , and adorned with the beautiful symbol of

purity . The head and the hands say , I will build a house , the heart says , I will build a home . Masonry when true to herself inculcates this principle , and she never appears to better advantage than when translating her creed into

deeds of kindness . The highest principle of life is " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart , and love thy neighbour as thyself , " and where this love prevails , the plain substantial pillar of morality will blossom into life ' s moat attractive forms .

10 . —Add to this , obedience , itself a Masonic virtue

Obedience transferred the authority of the architect to the lily crowned pillar . We are to build as God commands . The bee , true to its own laws , builds a perfect cell . The bird , a perfect nest . Human nature , true to its own laws , i . e ., obedient to God ' s laws , builds a temple in which God himself will take pleasure in dwelling .

Lastly . —Let me urge the divine order of life . " Seek ye first the kingdom of God . " Masonry is nothing if it is not methodical . She believes in perfect measurements and proportionate forms , in regular steps and degrees , as orderly as the course of time . Every member must prove himself

worthy before advancing to deeper mysteries . Life is not to be spent only in gathering flowers for decorations . The ornament will soon perish if it have nothing to support it . Build the pillar of a Christian character first , and out of it will bloom the lily work . Christ was strong enough to burst the bars of death , and raise the dead , yet his ministry

was a fine art of tenderness and kindness . The Christ life

Ornamentation Of Solomon's Temple.

is at ouce the strength , stability and beanty of society . Let us build according to the divine measurements , that life may be like the city of God that lieth four square , the length , and the breadth , and the height of it being equal . —Freemasons' Iiepository .

Esprit De Corps.

ESPRIT DE CORPS .

THE following is worthy the attention of every Master Mason , but more especially Worshipful Masters : — A Masonic organ in new York , like the owl , plaintively complains of such as , wandering near our sacred bower , molest our anoient solitary reign . There ia a tendency to

carelessness , says the writer , in many things in Lodge management—in the propositions for degrees , in the examining committee appointed on petitions , in the balloting for candidates , in the admission of visitors , and in all that tends to the harmony and prosperity of the

body . There is a good deal of . truth mall this , and an instance the same writer gives , and whioh gave rise to the foregoing remarks , is very instructive . A brother maybe asked by an acquaintance to be proposed for membership in his Lodge . For fear of offending him he presents the

application , trusting to the committee to find out " all about him . " The committee , having confidence in the brother proposing him , reports in favour of the applicant ; the members , relying on that report , ballot , and he is

elected , to the regret of half-a-dozen or more very soon after ho is initiated . The Lodges working under" the Netherlands here offer a most commendable example in this respect .

Writing on the " History of Freemasonry , " published recently / Brother W . Watson ( Leeds ) says—" Among the many beautiful and interesting plates are views of American Masonio Temples , which will come like a revelation to many of us . When we speak or hear of

American Freemasonry , we have in mind zeal , activity , untiring vigonr , and we naturally look for creditablo buildings in which our cousins hold their gatherings . Bnt these are buildings something more than homes for Lodges —they are superb palaces . "

Whatever maybe said as to the success that is attonding the present course of " working " at Wood Green , there aro many amongst us who consider Bro . Dr . Morris , the late Head Master , was somewhat senrvily treated when tho

clean " sweep" was made shortly after the Inquiry Commission had reported on its labours . We do not care to go into this matter , bnt we would call attention to the following paragraph , which has gone the " round " of the newspapers during the past few days : —

The nnopposed nomination by the university of Oxford of the Eev . Biobard Morris to the vioarage of Arnndel is a very graceful recognition on the part of that University of Dr . Morris ' s exceptional services to the scientific study of the English language . For many years he has held a first place among the authorities on the grammar

of oar language , and his " Historical Outlines has long been considered tha best text-book on the subject . A . Past President of the Philological Society , Dr . Morris has dona ranch good work for the Early English Text Society . For several years he was Head Master of the Boyal Masonio Schools at Wood Green ; while latterly he has

been Head Master of the Grammar School at Dedham , one of those anoient foundations whioh seem somehow to hare fallen , behind in the competition of to-day . The vicarage of Arnndel i » not a very arduous post , and all will hope that Dr . Morris may add still more to those obligations under whioh he has placed every lover of our English tongue . -. ¦ ¦¦ .: "•>

Personally , we congratulate Bro . Dr . Morris on this public recognition of his scholarly attainments ; We knew him before he came to the Masonic Institution , and ho brought with him a record that any man might juatly be proud of .

The conclusion at whioh I have arrived is that every Lodge ought to be examined by a competent person at least as often as once a year as to the manner in which it performs all its functions } that this visitation is not for the benefit of the particular Lodge , but for the safety of the whole Craft , and , therefore , that it ought to be done throughout the jurisdiction at the expense of the whole Craft

of that jurisdiction . The matter of expense in a good many jurisdictions is an exceedingly important one , and , in my judgment , bos really prevented a proper supervision of the subordinate Lodges . The history of these visitations shows conclusively that the Lodges whioh most need them are the onee least likely to call for . them and the least able to pay for them . — -J , E . Ibummmd .